Endocrine System Hormones Quiz

Anatomy & Physiology Part Deux

• The human body contains 30 hormones that regulate activities like sleep, body temperature, hunger, and stress management.
• There are four main types of intercellular communication: direct, paracrine, endocrine, and synaptic communication.
• Direct communication involves the exchange of ions and molecules between adjacent cells across gap junctions.
• Paracrine communication uses chemical signals to transfer information between cells within a single tissue.
• Endocrine communication involves endocrine cells releasing chemicals (hormones) into the bloodstream to alter metabolic activities of many tissues and organs simultaneously.
• Synaptic communication is limited to a specific area where neurotransmitters are released across synaptic clefts to target cells.
• Hormones are categorized into three groups: amino acid derivatives, peptide hormones, and lipid derivatives.
• Amino acid derivatives are small molecules structurally related to amino acids.
• Peptide hormones are chains of amino acids, often synthesized as prohormones.
• Lipid derivatives are derived from cholesterol and include eicosanoids and steroid hormones.
• Free hormones remain active for a short period (less than an hour).
• Bound hormones remain active much longer, becoming attached to transport proteins in the bloodstream.
• Lipid-soluble hormones diffuse across the plasma membrane to reach receptor proteins. This allows them to alter the rate of DNA transcription in the nucleus and directly affect metabolic activity and structure of target cells.
• Lipid-insoluble hormones use second messenger systems. Hormones bind to receptors in the plasma membrane and then activate intracellular intermediaries (second messengers) to cause changes within the target cell.
• Important second messengers include cyclic-AMP (cAMP), cyclic-GMP (cGMP), and calcium ions.
• Hormonal down-regulation refers to a decrease in hormone receptors, triggered by excess hormones, making cells less sensitive to hormones.
• Hormonal up-regulation refers to an increase in hormone receptors triggered by an absence of a hormone, leading to increased sensitivity to hormones.
• The hypothalamus acts as an endocrine organ, secretes regulatory hormones to control endocrine cells, and contains autonomic centers.
• The pituitary gland, also called the hypophysis, is located in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone, and is controlled by the hypothalamus.
• The pituitary gland contains an anterior and a posterior lobe.
• The anterior pituitary releases hormones under the control hypothalamic releasing hormones.
• The posterior pituitary stores and releases hormones synthesized in the hypothalamus.

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Test your knowledge on hormones in the endocrine system with this quiz. You'll encounter questions about peptide and steroid hormones, their modes of action, and characteristics of free hormones. Perfect for students studying biology or healthcare subjects.